We are writing in response to the case featured in The Issue – Development (Tuesday’s Oxford Mail).

There are several concerns regarding the granting of planning permission in this case.

The planning application was made and validated on February 14, but the neighbour consultee list was not generated until March 3.

There appears to be quite a degree of ambiguity regarding the cessation of notification letters, and we feel that an application submitted prior to March 1 should have had letters sent out.

The original application had eight objections but none on resubmission.

The case officer must have been aware of the previous objections and should have questioned whether the lack of objections was really due to the revised plans.

The site notice was displayed on a lamp-post on a public footpath running between Woodlands and Cherwell Avenue, which would not have been viewed by residents of Woodlands or Warborough Court, as they have no reason to use the footpath.

In order to display the site notice, a notice for another site was removed in order to display the new application.

This will inevitably have led to confusion as people would assume the old notice was still being displayed as notices are not removed on expiry.

These residents are the first victims of Cherwell District Council’s decision to stop writing to residents to inform them about new planning applications near to where they live.

The council did not consult on these changes, which were passed by the Conservative executive. Residents now have to find out about applications through notices placed at the site; for example on fences, or lamp posts – even on footpaths not used by the residents.

This is open to abuse by property developers, and has already opened the door for planning permission to be granted without the knowledge of immediate neighbours in Kidlington.

Planning notices will only be advertised in the Bicester Advertiser and the council now advertises only those that require statutory notification.

The council said that all applications would be available to view online, or in the LinkPoint offices.

However, not everyone has access to the internet or the time to keep checking regularly. In addition, you have to search by date and electoral ward, which is not immediately accessible to the general public.

The Liberal Democrats in Kidlington have already raised their concerns with council officers, This is yet another example of the Conservative council’s failure to address the concerns and needs of the people of Kidlington.

Cllr Alaric Rose Cllr Tim Emptage Cllr Doug Williamson Cllr Alan Armitage Cllr David Betts